Love Homer for everything he has done, but it's time for him to retire. He is easily the worst skater on this team now and hurts any type of momentum the 4th line ever tried to create. He's turnover prone now and makes Datsyuk and Z have to work twice as hard when he's paired up with them on the PP. Don't get me wrong, I see that he works just as hard as everyone else, but his skill level isn't what it used to be. He has become a defensive liability. Retire with some sort of dignity, Homer.

On a side not.......if I were him, I'd retire.....has anyone ever seen his wife? My son played against his son last fall......and that was the highlight of those 2 games....checking out Homers wife! Tall, leggy redhead....very nice! Lol!

I say a low cost 1 year 2 way contract. He can play the Classic, a thank you from management. Call him up when needed, and with less wear and tear at the NHL level he may turn out to be a very nice "surprise" for opposing goalies in the playoffs. We Love You Homer!!!

On a side not.......if I were him, I'd retire.....has anyone ever seen his wife? My son played against his son last fall......and that was the highlight of those 2 games....checking out Homers wife! Tall, leggy redhead....very nice! Lol!

It's one of those couples where you don't mind that the funny guy got the pretty girl.

I think he'll sign a 1 yr cheap contract, pretty much for the winter classic and a last ditch effort at a cup. With the potential UFA signings, we may have a contending team next year.

This. These responses all seem absurd to me- like others have said, if Holmstrom is gone, I believe Lidstrom is gone as well. And there's no way Lidstrom retires this year. Much like Hossa came here in large part to Kopecky, and then the Hawks signed Kopecky along with Hossa the next year.

In regards to Homer being "done" or "useless," there has not been a season in recent memory that did not end with Holmstrom being severely reduced due to the beatings he took over the course of the season. While, yes, he is older now, athleticism was never the key to his game, and we'll all see to start next season Homer hasn't slipped as far as we all assumed.

Q: Of all the individual trophies you have not won, which one would you most like to win?Datsyuk: I have so many of them that I haven't won. I think I would most like to win a trophy to the best goaltending duo.

I say a low cost 1 year 2 way contract. He can play the Classic, a thank you from management. Call him up when needed, and with less wear and tear at the NHL level he may turn out to be a very nice "surprise" for opposing goalies in the playoffs. We Love You Homer!!!

Because of his age, won't he have to clear waivers if we try and send him down?

"If I can be totally honest, it's not a lot of guys you get impressed by. Actually, it's no one else but him. From the bench, to see what move he makes -- you're like, 'I wish I could do that.' Sometimes you sit on the bench and just think, 'wow,' and you look over to the other bench and they sit there and shake their heads, too. He has great, great skills. I'm probably not going to play with another player who has the kind of skills he has." Mikael Samuelsson on Pavel Datsyuk

Because of his age, won't he have to clear waivers if we try and send him down?

He'll have to clear just like anyone else who is not waiver-exempt (3 years), but who would take him? I really can't imagine anyone taking him for their own needs, nor can I imagine anyone taking him just to prevent us from having him.